By Trevor Greenway
Local Journalism Initiative
If ever there was a time to become involved in your child’s education, it’s now.
With the Western Quebec School Board (WQSB) elections coming in just over a month, English rights advocacy groups in the province are calling on parents to run for a position and show the government how important it is to keep control of their own school board.
Bill 40 was passed in the National Assembly in 2020 and with it came abolishment of French school boards, which were converted into school service centres. While the CAQ government tried to extend the bill to English school boards in the province, a superior court ruled last year that major elements of Bill 40, an act that amends the Education Act concerning school organization and governance, are unconstitutional.
Quebec Premier François Legault has vowed to appeal the decision, making this year’s school board election more important than ever.
“Oh, my God, it’s so important,” said Quebec Community Groups Network director-general Sylvia Martin-Laforge. “Parents have to get involved, not only for the education of their children but also because the English school board system is an institution of the English-speaking community, and we have to show the government of Quebec that we – as parents, as grandparents, as community members – value that the governance of our school boards remains in the hands of committed, English-speaking, community individuals.”
Martin-Laforge said that keeping control of English education will mean that school board commissioners will not only fight to keep control but also fight to preserve and protect the “uniqueness” of English education in Quebec. She said those who run for school board commissioner roles will have more influence on curriculums, budgets and other important aspects of education.
“The parents are the direct line, for sure, and have to keep school board officials on their toes to really reflect what is needed in an English-speaking public system,” said Martin-Laforge. She also noted that, while Bill 40 targets public education, parents also need to keep tabs on postsecondary policies, as legislation, such as Bill 96, now Law 14, adds extra French courses to students’ course loads at English CEGEPS.
“Remain politically active in the English-speaking community,” she said. “It’s about the governance of our institutions. It’s about interference in government and how we want our children to be treated throughout the continuum of education.”
What does a school board commissioner do?
The WQSB director-general George Singfield was quick to point out the difference between the school board’s council of commissioners and a governing board member. The governing board is made up of an equal number of parents and staff members, while councils of commissioners are voted in through an election. School board commissioners do not have to be parents to run in the election.
Singfield said commissioners control everything from budgets and curriculums to school expansion and other financial projects.
“We just adopted the budget for our board, but it has to be approved by the council of commissioners,” said Singfield. “They adopt the budget, they approve curricular approaches as presented by the principal, activities and all kinds of pieces that involve programming. So there are many examples of what we do, but really their role is governance.”
The WQSB has 11 electoral districts, with a commissioner at the helm of each one. Singfield said commissioners meet at least once a month, depending on whether or not a commissioner also sits on a committee, which includes transportation, human resources and other committees.
“You’re looking at a few hours a month,” added Singfield. “If you’re a commissioner and you sit on a committee then it could be up to 10 hours a month.”
This year’s election for commissioners happens on Nov. 3, although candidacy papers are due by Sept. 29.
How to apply? To be a school board commissioner, you must be on the Anglophone Electoral List. All eligible parents with children currently enrolled in a WQSB school are automatically registered. If your child is not currently enrolled in school, you’re still eligible to run as long as you reside within the WQSB catchment area. To register on the electoral list, visit www.westernquebec.ca and complete the Notice to the Anglophone School Board form and send it to rvincent@wqsb.qc.ca